Page 22 of A Smile Full of Lies
I messaged Southern Scare Collective’s official account directly, keeping my message to them short and professional.
Nox Obscura
Interested in making my first in-person appearance at whatever this year’s SSC haunted house event is going to be. Happy to share clips on socials and boost promotion. Will need filming access at the location. That’s all I ask in exchange. Let me know.
I hit send and bit back a grin.
Josh kept going: “—we could even include a high-scare route and a low-scare route. Controlled lighting cues. Personalized fear profiles. I mean, we want it to feel real, but not like anyone’s actually in danger, you know?”
Before I could reply, I heard a muffled voice on his end, someone stepping into the room.
“Hey, Josh? You’re not gonna believe this: Nox Obscura just reached out to us. LiketheNox Obscura. He wants in on this year’s event.”
Josh gasped like he’d been blessed by God himself.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. He just DMed us, and wants permission to film on-site in exchange for his appearance.”
“This is insane,” Josh whispered. “What are the fucking odds?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, shaking with silent laughter.
“What’s a… Nocturn-something?” I asked, feigning confusion.
Josh sucked in a gasp, like my supposed ignorance offended him.
“Nox Obscura,” he said, his voice reverent. “He’s… huge. He’s a masked thirst trap content creator. The man isterrifyinglysexy. His fans are obsessed with him.”
“Sounds useful,” I said, keeping my tone neutral and businesslike. “If he’s legit, let him in.”
Josh was practically vibrating with excitement on the other end of the line.
“You don’t get it,” he said, breathless. “Nox Obscura’s the real fucking deal. He’s not like the cringey mask bros who just pant in front of a ring light. This guy’s primal. Ferocious. His stuff goes viral almost every time he posts.”
“Uh-huh,” I replied, staring at my screen.
“He does these hunting videos. Full tactical black, voice changer, pitch-black woods with night vision overlays. It’s intimate and terrifying… like if a serial killer wanted to fuck you instead of stab you.”
I smiled faintly.
“Charming.”
Josh laughed.
“It is! That’s the thing. It’s like… fear kink content. And the fanbase is rabid. Girls thirst in the comments constantly. They post duet reactions where they practically cream themselves. One woman said his voice made her ‘clench like a demon in church’. No lie.”
I muted him and opened a new private browsing window on my work desktop.
Josh’s voice droned on in the background, gushing about marketing synergy and brand awareness. Meanwhile, I logged in to the anonymous forum I’d been chatting with Ros on the night before.
Lucky for me, she was online.
I leaned forward, my heart kicking harder against my rib cage.
GraveyardGirl93… my girl.
I navigated to her profile and clicked the DM button so I could drop a private message directly in her inbox.
